ETC and Prosound are very proud to have sponsored lighting and technical support to twelve of the National Arts Festival in Makhanda’s most prestigious venues. Lighting designers, technicians and students have all been delighted to have been able to work on such a high-end and prestigious lighting brand for the duration of the festival.
Prosound and ETC have been laying down the groundwork for a few years now to make ETC the gear of choice at the festival. Motlotlo Makhobotloane (Mac), has been Prosound’s man on the ground at the festival, working as installer, teacher and trouble-shooter. He tells me that at first, there was resistance to using ETC consoles, as they are usually brought in as freelancers, and like to be familiar with the gear they were using. Now, with ETC being installed in most major playhouses and churches around South Africa, they are much more comfortable with being sat in front of and ETC desk.
Speaking to the designers at NAF18, the one message that comes through time and time again is the ease of use of ETC and how it works in a way that all understand. Motlotlo (Mac) is in town for two weeks before the actual event starts to get experienced technicians up to speed, as well as teaching the ins and outs of the consoles from scratch. A great way to build brand loyalty.
A special emphasis at this year’s festival has been on showcasing how lighting will work in the future, so two venues were fully kitted out in ETC LED fixtures and solutions. The Masonic Front and Masonic Back boasts the simplicity of new technology, and Mac has been using the venues to showcase the following:
- ColorSource 40 Consoles
- ColorSource Pars
A combination of ColorSource LED Profiles and Lustr Profiles for Front of House.
Again, the simplicity of ETC is evident in the venue, as the touch screen consoles are accessible enough for the show’s producers and directors to have a hands-on approach to their production. The venues are ably run by freelancers Ellah Sehume, Kgaugelo Mboweni and Koketso.
Lighting designer for the festival at The Guy Butler Theatre, Darren Wolhuter was also very happy to be working with an ETC EOS Titanium Console. This prestigious, state of the art theatre hosted the official opening night of the festival, which was attended by the Mayor of Grahamstown along with several other dignitaries. Lighting technician, Sheriff (@bamanye1981), had the show up and running with ease, as he is a sought after freelance lighting expert in Cape Town.
“I own my own ETC gear, so I’m very familiar with it. More and more theatres in Cape Town are installing ETC, and with my knowledge of the product, I’m being kept very busy” enthuses Sheriff with the great hair.
All theatres running on ETC control at the festival ran without hitch, and by all accounts the festival was a huge success. Mac from Prosound was on call 24/7 to make sure everyone was comfortable with the gear, and to provide moral support for the students.
Prosound have been exceptionally committed to growing the ETC brand in South Africa, and believe that being so deeply involved in the National Arts Festival for so long is definitely paying dividends. Allowing experienced designers and students just starting out in their careers to work on ETC products has proved to be a greatly empowering endeavour, and they hope that the collaboration with the organisers of the festival will last for many years to come.
Venues that have been fitted with ETC consoles and fixtures are:
- The Great Hall, running an ETC EOS full size console with Four Port Gateway.
- The Hangar – ETC GIO, 4 x LED Series 2 Lustr profiles, and Martin Mac Auras
- Guy Butler Theatre – ETC EOS Titainium & Congo Full-size
- The Masonic Front and Back – ColorSource Consoles and ColorSource Pars, Lustr Profiles
- NG Kerk (Won Best Venue for 2018) – ColorSource 40 Console and 3 x LED Series 2 Lustr Profiles
- Graeme College – ETC Element 60
- St Andrews College – ETC Element 40
- Glennie Hall – ETC Element Console 40
- Gymnasium – ETC Nomad pack and 8 x ColourSource Pars
- Victory Theatre – On PC, EOS Nomad pack
- Rhodes Box – 3 x ColorSource Cyc